I know the Econoline pickups are unibody construction. But can they be cut in half and shortened a couple of feet?

 

I have seen pictures of shortened pickups, so the answer is, yes. But, I'm sure they are supported and enhanced to the point of basically building a sub-frame. Since the drive line if fairly short anyway, other than drag racing, why would you want to shorten the wheel base?

 

I saw a picture of a short flare side bed on an Econoline pickup. I don't know if it was photo shopped or real. I wish I could find the picture. It looked very cool. I wondered if it was possible for ME to do it.

 

Yeah, the right flareside bed could look good. But, you may not have to shorten the frame at all. Get some measurements of the van and where you might want to cut it, then check out a Ranger flareside, for length and width. The Econoline wheel base isn't that long.

 

The stock driveshaft is only a couple of feet long (automatics have a short tailshaft and a 22" driveshaft (u-joint to u-joint)), so shortening the truck by that much will require some major re-engineering. The stock 90" wheelbase is normal for small sports cars, not for trucks.

As others have said, best to keep the wheelbase and just change out the bed.

Econoline Driveshafts

 

Like emilBanabas said, the wheelbase on the Econline is 90 inches. The wheelbase on the first generation ranger, (compact version), is 107.9. I don't know of any other flareside bed that would be as close a fit. Keep in mind. the Splash bed length is roughly 72 inches. I would guess you would need to remove a few inches off the front of the bed, to make it fit the wheel base. Of course, that would be easier than shortening the frame/unibody.

 

If you put some thought into it, just about anything can be done. Now weather it looks and operates properly and SAFELY is a whole different ballgame. If you want to shorten the wheelbase.. why not just leave the frame alone and just move spring hangers forward. Measure how far you want to shorten it and move the rear axle front spring hanger that distance forward. Then do the same with the rear hanger. Don't forget to weld a piece of pipe or tubing through the frame where the top hanger bolts goes through the frame rail. Do the same with the rear. Now comes the fun part of mounting the gas tank. Remember to relocate the cross members and all the brake lines and Emergency brake will have to be modified as well... Biggest PITA will be messing around with the driveshaft angles and keeping U joints together.

Now if you want to be different.. leave the frame and axles alone and cut the body from behind the cab off but ONLY go as far as the outside of the frame rails. Do some work and makes some flairside box sides that can be welded to the exterior of the cab and along the floor of the bed. Making you own tailgate is easy. As for the box sides. get the boxes mounted and welded AND then mock up your fenders and drill and mount as you please. You will have a longer box than a regular short flairside is.. but you would have an Econoline flairside... The possibility and ways and means are there, it is up to YOU if you can handle/create/ possess the vision to see and do what you want.

 

Thinking about doing something like that with this Econoline pickup.

 

Now there's a project!!! Glad I'm getting too old to take something like that on.